A devastating shack fire at the Plastic View informal settlement in Moreleta Park, Pretoria, has left one person dead and caused widespread destruction to homes.Emergency services from the City of Tshwane were called out shortly after 6am on Sunday morning after multiple shacks were reported to be on fire.Firefighting teams from several stations, including Central, Silverton, Erasmuskloof and Mamelodi, were dispatched to the scene to contain the blaze.According to EMS spokesperson Nana Radebe-Kgiba, preliminary assessments indicate that around 150 shacks were affected by the fire.Firefighters worked swiftly to bring the flames under control and prevent the fire from spreading further through the densely populated settlement.Despite their efforts, extensive damage had already been done by the time the fire was extinguished.During mop-up and search operations, emergency personnel discovered a body under the debris.Authorities believe the person was unable to escape when the fire broke out.The identity of the deceased has not yet been released, and further searches are ongoing to ensure that all residents are accounted for.The cause of the fire remains unknown at this stage.Investigations will only begin once the area has been declared safe and firefighting operations are fully completed.

Disaster risk management teams are expected to assess the full extent of the damage and determine how many families have been displaced, with support measures to follow for affected residents.

Authorities have also urged communities to exercise caution when using open flames, paraffin stoves, candles, and electrical appliances, particularly during colder months when the risk of residential fires increases significantly.